Machine for shaping uppers over lasts



1933- w. T. B. ROBERTS MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed D60. 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 h A/l E/VTU/ FL WM? (5;

H Q %m5 g 8, 1933- w. T. B. ROBERTS MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed Dec. 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FigtZ.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. T. B. ROBERTS MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER LASTS Filed Dec. 29, 1931 F iitlllitr Patented Aug. 8, 1933 MACHINE FOR SHAPING UPPERS OVER- LASIS William Thomas Buckingham RobrtaLeicester, England, assigns! to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. 3., a Corporationof New Jersey Application Deoenibcr 29, 1931, Serial No. 583,634, and in Great Britain January 19, 1931 23 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes for shaping uppers over lasts, and in some aspects more particularly to machines that operate upon shoes positioned bottom downward and have means for driving one or more iastenings upwardly into the shoe bottom to hold the upper in conformity to the last. The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a pulling-over machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,510,851, granted on October 7, 1924, upon an application of A. E. Jerram and Joseph Gouldbourn, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to machines of that particular type. Machines that operate as above described to drive fastenings upwardly into the shoe bottom are commonly provided with upwardly movable drivers and with driver passages in alinement with the drivers for guiding the fastenings. An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for delivering fastenings into such passages or into positions to be driven by the upwardly movable drivers. For the purpose in view the construction herein shown comprises means whereby each fastening is delivered to a driver passage through one side of the passage, the machine having for each driver passage an upwardly extending duct which communicates with the passage below the upper end of the latter and through which the fastening is blown by pneumatic means. Such a construction is especially advantageous in a machine of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, in which the proximity to the driver passages of other parts of the machine, and particularly the presence of fastening-controlling devices normally positioned over the upper ends of the driver passages, renders it inconvenient to deliver the fastenings through the upper ends of these passages. In the herein disclosed application of the invention to a machine of that type, each upwardly extending duct is formed in a member that is movable with the corresponding driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe bottom, and means is pro.-

vicled for delivering a fastening into this duct and for blowing it into the driver passage when this member is in its idle position. In the machine herein shown there is further provided means for insuring against return of the fastening after it has been delivered into the driver passage.

In machines of the illustrated type the fastenings utilized are commonly pointed and headed fastenings, such as tacks. Such fastenings are most conveniently separated point downward from the source of supply, but, of course, must be positioned point upward when they are driven into the shoe. The present invention accordingly further provides improved means for inverting the fastenings. As herein illustrated the fastenings are delivered by gravity from the usual separator to inverting means provided with curved ducts or conduits which receive the fastenings point downward and from which they are delivered point upward. the delivery ends of these curved ducts are arranged to aline with the above-mentioned upwardly extending ducts when the drivers and parts associated therewith are in their idle positions, and by the pneumatic means the fastenings are blown from the inverting means through the upwardly extending ducts and into the driver f passages at the proper time in the cycle of the machine.

The above and'other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view substantially in elevation of a portion of a machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the structure as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1, parts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure; and

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, showing a portion of the means for separating and delivering the fastenings.

In viewof the disclosure in the above-mentioned and other prior Letters Patent of the characteristic features of machines of the well-known type illustrated, only such parts of the machine as it is necessary to refer to for an understanding of the invention are herein shown and will be described in detail.

It will be understood that the machine includes a plurality of grippers for pulling an upper at the toe end and the opposite sides of the forepart of a last positioned bottom downward, prefor insole on the bottom or the last and for driving In the construction shown 65 g tacks upwardly into the shoe bottom to hold the upper in conformity to the last; In Fig. 1 is shown the mechanism for laying the upper over the sole and for fastening it at one side of the forepart. This mechanism comprises anarm or carrier 12 which is grooved longitudinally on its inner face to receive and guide a reciprocable tack driver bar 14 which, in the construction illustrated, carries three tack drivers 16 at its upper end. The arm 12 at its upper end carries a block 18 on which is a tack holder and guide 20 provided with driver passages 22 inalinement with the drivers 16 and into the lower ends of which the drivers project when they are in their lowermost positions. To assist in controlling the tacks and in centralizing them relatively to the drivers as they are driven upwardly toward the shoe, there is provided a controlling device comprising tack fingers 24 of well-known construction normally positioned over and substantially covering the upper'ends of the passages 22. It will be understood that as the tacks are driven the fingers 24 are separated from each other to permit the tacks to pass. Mounted over the tack fingers 24 are the usual wipers 26 for laying the margin of the upper over "the sole. It will be understood that the arm 12, which in Fig. 1 is shown in an idle position away from the shoe, is mounted to swing inwardly toward the shoe to carry the fastening means into position under the shoe bottom for the driving of the upper-fastening tacks after the upper has been pulled by the grippers, the drivers 16 and the other parts described as supported on the arm moving therewith.

In the construction shown, for purposes of this invention, the tacks are introduced into the driver passages 22 through openings in the sides of these passages below their upper ends. For this purpose the block 18 is provided with three ducts 28 extending upwardly and opening into the passages 22 below the upper ends of the passages but above the upper ends of the drivers 16 when the latter are in their lowermost positions. For delivering the tacks into these ducts there is provided a stationary tack inverter comprising a block 30 having a plane upper face, a curved lower face; and parallel sides; The block 30 is slotted at 32 (Fig. 3) to straddle a member 34 which has a downwardly extendingportion 36 secured to the frame of the machine by bolts 38. The member 34 is provided with horizontal ribs on its opposite sides, indicated at 40, and the block 30 has corresponding grooves to receive these ribs; A curved cover plate 42 is shaped similarly to and is secured to the lower curved face of the block 30, and formed partly in the block and partly in the cover plate are tack-guiding conduits or ducts 44, one for each of the ducts 28. The inner ends of the ducts 44 lead upwardly and open through fiat faces formed partly on the block 30 and partly on the cover 42, these faces being arranged to engage corresponding faces formed on the member 18 at the lower ends of the ducts 28 when the arm 12 is in itsidle position, the curved ducts 44 then communicating with the ducts 28, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The block 30 and its cover 42 are detachably secured in position on the member 34 by a rotatable plunger 46 housed in a horizontal bore in the member- 34 and urged inwardly by a spring 48. This plunger extends outwardly through a slot 50 in the block 30 and the cover 42 and is provided with a rectangular flange 52 which, as the parts are positioned in Fig. 2, is longer horizontally than vertically and abuts against the cover 42 at opposite sides of the slot 50. The plunger 46 thus presses the block 30 and the cover inwardly and holds a vertical face on the block against a corresponding face 54 on the member 34. If it is desired to remove the block 30 from the member 34, the plunger 46 is turned through 90 so that the flange 52 is in alinement with the slot 50. The block 30 can then be removed by sliding it horizontally outward.

The tacks are supplied from a tack pot 56 (Fig. 5) which is oscillated by a vertically movable bar SScarrying a rack bar 60 in engagement with a pinion 62 formed on a shaft as common in machines of the illustrated type. It will be understood that. the tacks are delivered to a plurality of raceways formed in a raceway block 66 and that the lowermost tacks in the several raceways are separated and dropped by a separator 68 which is reciprocated by connection with the shaft 34. The tacks dropped by the separator fall into ducts '70 formed in a block '72 hereinafter referred to, and from the ducts '70 the tacks enter ther ducts 74 formed in a block '76. Only one of the ducts 70 and of the communicating ducts 74 is shown in the drawings, but it will be understood that there are provided a plurality of such ducts corresponding in number to the number of tasks that are delivered simultaneously by the separator. In the construction shown there are tubes 79 leading to the lower ends of the ducts '70, through which tacks of different length than those supplie by the illustrated tack pot may be conductedfrom another tack pot on themachine. From the ducts 74 the tacks fall into tubes 80 which are clamped to the block '75. Three of these tunes lead to the three ducts 44 of the previously described tack inverter at one side of the machine, and it will be understood that the other tubes lead to similar portions of the structure located elsewhere in the machine. The lower ends of the threetubes are clamped by screws 82 against the upper face of the member 34 which has holes 34 leading through it and connecting the tubes to the ducts 44. It will be understood that the tacks are thus delivered point downward into the ducts 44 and that by the curvature of these ducts they aredelivered point upward into the ducts'23.

To force the tacks from the ducts 44 upwardly along the ducts 28 and thence into the driver passages 22 the machine is provided with an air pump 86 operated by the vertically movable bar 53 in a manner similar to the disclosure of the previously-mentioned Letters Patent. This pump is provided with a lid 88 with which the previously-mentioned block '76 is integral, and on this lid is a boss 90 through which extends an opening 92 for the escape of air from the pump. The previously-mentioned block '72, which is clamped on the-lid 88 and the block 76 by wing nuts 93, is provided with a chamber 94 extending transversely thereof and communicating through an opening 95 with the opening 92. Extending from th chamber 94 are a plurality of ducts 98 communicating with ducts 100 formed in the block 2'6, the latter communicating with the previouslymentioned ducts 74' It will accordingly be understood that air delivered by the pump to the chamber 94 is forced downwardly from this chamber into the several tack tubes 80 and thence through the ducts 44 and 28, blowing the tacks upwardly into the driver passages 22, whereupon they normally come to rest on the ends of the drivers as indicated in Fig. 4.

In order that the tacks which are adjacent to the separator 68 may not be disturbed by any back pressure of air from the tubes So, the machine is further provided with a slide hi2, shown in cross section in Fig. 5, mounted for movement in he block 7%; This slide is provided with a plurality of holes 16% through which the tacks from. the ducts 70 must pass to re oh the ducts 7 After the tacks have (1 ed by the separator, and before the pump is operated, the slide 182 is moved so that its holes 184 are out of alincinent with the ducts 7G and 7%, the

upper ends of the ducts is being thus closed so as to prevent upward escape o To operate an arm which engages a lever 108 last on a rock shaft 11c. Also fast on this roc shaft is a lever arm 112 connected by means not shown in detail to one end of the slide 132. ihrough these connections the slide 1-92 is moved in one direct'on by downward movement of tie bar 58, and its movement in the opposite direction is eii'ected by a spring 114 on the rock shaft 110 when the bar 58 is moved upward.

W ien the blown upwardly into the dri passages 22 as hereinbefore described, it may happen that the point of a tool; will become gripped between the meeting edges of the aclc fingers 24, so that the tack will be prevented falling back upon the upper erd of the driver When the arm 12 is swung inwardly toward the shoe such a tack may become dislodged by the sudt n movement of the arm, and when it falls U111 such conditions it may tend to return into the duct 28. This would result not only in fai -.re of the machine to drive a tack at that point, but also in the probability of interference with the feeding of a tack for the next tacit.- driving operation. To guard against such results the machine is further provided with a valve 116 comprising a rotatable rod extending across the upper ends of the ducts 28 substantially where they join the passages 22, the rod having slots 112 arranged to aline with the respective ducts 28 when the valve is in one position. Near its outer end the valve 116 has secured to it a finger 120 to which is connected a spring 122 tending to turn the valve in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1). When the arm 12 is in its idle position, as shown in 1, an arm 12a fast on the machine frame engages the finger 120 and maintains the valve 116 in the position indicated in Fig. l vith the ducts 28 in communication with the driver passages When the arm 12 is swung inwardly toward the shoe the finger 120 is carried away from the 12d, whereupon the spring 122 acts to turn the valve through approximately 9-9 until it is stopped by a pin (not shown) engaging the finger 120. In this manner the ducts 28 are substantially closed, so as to insure that any tack that may fall from the tack fingers 24 in the swinging movement or the arm will not leave the driver passage.

If for any reason tack should fail to pass out of of the ducts 28 into the corresponding passage 22. there is provided means for preventing its retuio into the corresponding curved duct or so that it wil. not interfere with the feeding or" another taciz. For this purpose there are passages 126 (Fig. 1) leading from the lower sides of the ducts 28 and arranged above a tray 128 on the arm A cordingly w en the arm is hoover toward the shoe any tack that may have fallen into one of the passages 126 will fall out of the passage and into the tray.

It will be understood that prior to the starting into'the corresponding duct 28.

of the machine the arm 12 occupies the position in which it is shown in 1. At this time tacks previously separated and dropped by the separator i8 occupy positions at thebottonis of the ducts as in the tack inverter. The arm 12 remains in the position illustrated. through the first stage of the cycle of the inachme during which the grip- ;c-rs 10 are operated to grip theuppcr and to tension it over the last, the machine coming to res at the end of this stage of the cycle to permit inspection the upper. In this first stage of the cycle the pump 36 operated by upward movement of the bar 58 to blow the tac {S from the curved ducts 14i upwardly through the ducts 28 and into the dr ver passages 22, the valve 116 at this t he occupying the position illustrated in s. Lifter the machine has been started to initiate the second stage or" the cycle, the arm 12 is swung inwardly toward the shoe into position for the tacl:.-driving operation, gripper" releasing the upper before the arm completes its inward move-- nient. By this movement of the arm the finger 120 is carried away from the arm 12% and the valve 116 is accordingly turned by the spring 122 into position to prevent any tack which may have been gripped by the tack: fingers 2 1 from returning After the arm has completed its inward movement the tack drivers operated to drive the tacks. Thereafter the rin 12 is swung outwardly from the shoe, and this operation takes place the tack separator 63 is operated to separate tacks and drop thern point downward through the tubes 80 into the in erter 3-) ready to be blown upwardly into the driver passages in the operation of the mach ie on the next shoe. In the outward moveir nt oi thearin the valve 116 is turned to open ticn by the action of the member 124 on the fin er 1.20.

It will be understood that parts constructed substantially as illustrated in Fl 1 are located at the opposite sides of the machine, and that an arm similar to the arm 12 with tacit-supplying 1nech-.

anisrn generally similar to that hereinbefore described is likewise arranged. to operate at the toe end of the shoe. Since, however, machines of the illustrated are commonly provided with means for driving only one tack at the end of the toe, the tack-supplying mechanism wlll be correspondingly constructed to deliver in each cycle only one tack ior use in that location.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-iastling means movable from an idle position to a position under the last and cornprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the snoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with upwardly extending passage in alinei rent wi the and means for introducing fastening into said passage through one side thereof below its upper end.

2. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts,

the combination with means for shaping an fastening provided with an upwar ly ex ending v passage permanently in alinenlent with the driver, and means for delivering a fastening upwardly into said passage from a location below the upper end of the driver.

3. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means movable from an idle position to a position under the last and comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a pointed fastening into the shoe bottom, a guioe for the fastening provided wit: a passage permaer, m

source of supply, and me fasteningand for deivering it said passage i i. In a machine for sh the combination with me. upper over a last positior of upper-fastening means position to a position 112" e last and com-- prising a driver movable vardiy fastening into the shoe bottom, a fastening provided with an upwar in alineinent with the d wardly extending duct co. nunicating at upper end with pa age, 131"ll2l1iltl0 means for blowing a fastening upwardly along said duct and into said In a machine for sliapmg uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an up a over a positioned bottom downward, of upper fastening means movable from an idle p to a position under the last and comp:- driver movable upwardly to drive a point point upward into oi the passage. uppers over lasts,

for shaping an bottom downward,

ble from one i gill fastening provided with an upwardly extendii passage in alin- -rnent with (h'lVl', means .or separating a fastening point downward f; 3%. source of supply, means communicating with a side of said pars-sage below the upper end 0 the latter for conducting the see rated fastening into the passage, said conducting mean g a curved portion for inverting deliverir it point upward, and pneumatic l'ilcitl for bl wing the fastening along said conducting means and into the passage.

6. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of up er-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with an upwardly extending passage in alinement with the driver, a fastening-controlling device normally located over the upper end of said pas sage, and means for introducing a fastening into said passage through one side thereof below said controlling device and for leaving it supported by the driver prior to the operation of the driver.

'1. In a machine for shaping uppers over 121 the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with an upwardly extending passage in alineinent with the driver, a fastening-controlling device normally located over the upper end of said passage, an upwardly extending duct communicating with said passage through one side of th latter below said controlling device, and pneumatic means for blowing a fastening upwardly along said duct and into said passage and for leaving it supported by the driver prior to the operation of the driver.

the combination with means for shaping an up' per over a last positioned bottom downward, of

upper-fastening means coniprl ing a driver move able upwardly to drive a pointed fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with an upwardly extending passage in alinement with the driver, a fastening-controlling device normally located over the upper end of said passage, means for separating a fastening point downward from a source of supply, and means for inverting the separated fastening and for conducting it point upward into said pasbelow said controlling device and leaving it resting on the driver while said device is over the upper end of the passage.

9. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with a passage in alinement with the driver, a duct communicating with one side of said passage for delivering a fastening into the passage, and means located substantially at the junction of said duct and passage for preventing return of the fastening into the duct.

10. In a machine for shaping over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with a passage in alinement with the driver, an upwardly extending duct communicating with said passage through one side thereof for delivering a fastening upwardly into the passage, and

an automatically-con'trolled valve located substantially at the junction of said duct and pasfor preventing return of the fastening into the duct.

11. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with a passage in alinement with the driver, and an upwardly extending duct for delivering fastening upwardly into said passage, said duct having an outlet for discharging therefrom any improperly deiivered fastening.

12. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of rumor-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening provided with a passage in alinernent with the driver, an upwardly extending duct communicating with said passage below the upper end of the latter for delivering a fastening into the passage, and pneumatic means for blowing a fastening upwardly along said duct and into the passage, said duct having an outlet at one side thereof for discharging any improperly delivered fastening.

13. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a guide for the fastening movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, said guide being provided with a passage in alinement with the driver, and means for introducing a fastening into said passage through one side thereof when the guide is in its idle position.

i i. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upover a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fa tening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage permanently in alinement with the driver and with an upwardly extending duct leading into said passage, and means for delivering a fastening upwardly through said duct and into said passage when the carrier is in its idle position.

15. In machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable up .vardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, 1 us on said carrier pro vided with a passage in alinement with the driver and with a duct opening into one side of said age below the upper end of the latter, and pneumatic means for blowing a fastening along said duct and into said passage when th carrier is in its idle position.

16. In machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combii ion with urea s for shaping upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into po ition for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage in alinernent with the driver and with a duct leading into said passage through one side of the latter, means for delivering a fastening through said duct and into said passage, and automatic means for preventin return of the fastening into the duct.

17. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination wi h means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to d .3 a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position. for the driving of the fastening in.;o the shoe, on said carrier provided with a passage in alinern nt with the driver and with an upward y extending duct communicating with said passage, means for delivering a fastening upwardly through said duct and into said passage when the carrier is in its idle position, valve controlled by the movement of said car or for preventing return of the fastening into said duct.

18. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts. the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means coo sing a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on carrier provided with a passage in alinement with the driver with upwardly extending duct coinrnunicating with said passage, means for delivering a fastenin through said duct and into said passage when the carrier is in its idle position, a

valve located substantially at the junction of said duct and passage, spring means for moving the valve into position substantially to close the duct as the carrier is moved away from its idle position, and a device for moving the valve to open the duct in response to return movement of the car rier to its idle position.

19. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a pointed fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage in alinement with the driver, means for separating a fastening point downward from a source of supply, and means for inverting the separated fastening and for delivering it point upward into said passage through one side thereof when the carrier is in its idle position.

20. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage in alinement with the driver and with a duct leading upwardly into said passage, and means arranged to communicate with said duct only when the carrier is in its idle position for delivering a fastening upwardly through the duct and into said passage.

21. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upper-fastening means comprising a driver inovable upwardly to drive a fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage in alinernent with the driver and with a duct leading upwardly into said passage, a conduit arranged to communicate with said duct only when the carrier is in its idle position, and pneumatic means for blowing a fastening from said conduit upwardly along the duct and into said. passage.

22. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts, the combination with means for shaping an upper over a. last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable upwardly to drive a pointed fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from an idle position into position for the driving of the fastening into the shoe, means on said carrier provided with a passage in alinement with the driver and with a duct leading upwardly into said passage, means for separating a fastening point downward from a source of supply, an inverter provided with a curved conduit arranged to receive the separated fastening point downward and to deliver it point upward. into said duct, and pneumatic means for blowing the fastening upwardly along the duct and into said passage when the carrier is in its idle position.

23. In a machine for shaping uppers over lasts,.

the combination with means for shaping an upper over a last positioned bottom downward, of upperfastening means comprising a driver movable up-v wardly to drive a pointed fastening into the shoe bottom, a carrier movable with said driver from ward and to deliver it point upward, the delivery end of said conduit being arranged to communicate with said duct when the carrier is in its idle position, and pneumatic means for blowing the fastening from said conduit upwardly along the duct and into said passage.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS. 

